Polls: Social

Almost 3 in 10 Nigerians know a victim of Domestic Violence; Financial issues and Lack of Communication main causes of conflict

Abuja, Nigeria. November 24th, 2015 – 25th November 2015 marks this year’s ‘International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women’ with theme ‘Prevent Violence against Women’. Each year, November 25th is an occasion to raise public awareness on violence against women, serving as an opportunity for governments, international organizations, NGOs and women’s activists to organize activities and campaigns designed to discourage violence against women in its various forms.

According to United Nations reports, One in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence; mostly by an intimate partner [1]. In Nigeria, Traditionally, domestic violence is committed against the female gender in the commonest forms of rape, acid attack, molestation, assault and corporal punishment. In many cases, victims of marital violence remain passive or accept this abuse due to beliefs that it is part of the culture or socially acceptable and they would have to bear with it. However, the recent passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill into law in May 2015 has brought some Joy and hope to vulnerable persons, especially women and girls who are usually the victims of abuse and domestic violence.

The VAPP provides a legislative and legal framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, also prohibits economic abuse, forced isolation and separation from family and friends, substance attack, depriving persons of their liberty, incest, indecent exposure, among others. It also intends to eliminate violence in private and public life and provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims of violence, and punishment of offenders [2].

As part of its contribution towards the addressing of the issue of Violence against women in Nigeria, NOIPolls has conducted several surveys on the issue of domestic violence. Key highlights of these polls are revisited in this press release as a call for reflection, in commemoration of the 2015 International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women.

Excerpts of Findings from NOIPolls Marriage and Domestic Violence Poll:

In 2012, NOIPolls conducted a snap poll that focused on Marriage and Domestic Violence which sought to understand the perception of Nigerians on marriage and factors responsible for domestic abuse. Poll results showed that while at least 1 in 10 respondents (13%) had been a victim of domestic violence in the past, 29% of respondents knew someone who had been a victim of domestic abuse and violence.

Furthermore, the survey also sought to establish the main causes of conflicts in marriages. The results showed that 40% and 31% of the respondents believe that ‘Financial Issues’ and the ‘Lack of Communication’, respectively, are the main causes of conflicts in marriages. Also 6% of the respondent chose ‘Lack of Understanding’ and 3% ‘interference from In-laws’. Interestingly, only 2% each chose the ‘presence or lack of children’, ‘Lack of Sex’, ‘Infidelity’, and ‘Lies & Distrust’. 1% of the respondents also suggested that conflicts arise when ‘Love no longer exists’

In response to the question of why there is increased domestic violence in the society, 6 in 10 Nigerians (60%) ascribed the recent increase in domestic violence to ‘poverty’. The respondents suggested that poverty has led many people into frustration and anger, and at the slightest provocation, people resort to violence as a means of expressing their frustration with their poor situation. Furthermore, 16% and 12% of the respondents were of the opinion that it was because ‘Love no longer exists’, and the ‘growing Insensitivity’, respectively. Interestingly, only 1% of the respondents ascribed the increase in domestic violence to ‘Unemployment’.

Survey Methods Results are based on a nationwide telephone survey of 2,189 phone-owning adults, aged 18 and older, and conducted from the 16th – 20th April 2012. For results based on this sample size, we can say with 95% confidence that the margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. The margin of error reflects the influencing of data weighting, while question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys may introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

Disclaimer

This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published.

NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking.